Map the decision
- Issue and stakeholder brief
- Deadline and hearing calendar
- One priority message or convening plan
SERVICES
Public affairs & legislative advocacy
Bring people and decisions together.
Prepare the research, materials, and coalition work behind a public decision. Connect institutions and communities through an organized engagement plan.
For public agencies, nonprofits, coalitions, and businesses navigating policy and community decisions.
A GOOD FIT
For the work
in front of you.
- A policy or public decision that needs a researched engagement plan.
- Coalitions aligning people, messages, and follow-through.
- Teams preparing hearings, outreach, or community meetings.
WHEN ANOTHER ROUTE IS NEEDED
Define the boundary early.
- Legal advice on lobbying, campaign finance, or tax status.
- Undisclosed lobbying or activity beyond the client’s authorized scope.
- Claims of political access, guaranteed outcomes, or influence for sale.
THE WORK, IN DETAIL
What your team
can put to work.
Combine the workstreams your team needs, with clear owners and review points.
8 workstreams 64 deliverables
01Policy research and analysis8 deliverablesGive your team the evidence and context behind a policy choice.
Issue brief with a stated position and supporting evidence, Comparative policy scan across relevant jurisdictions, Fiscal and implementation impact summary with stated assumptions, and five more.
- Issue brief with a stated position and supporting evidence
- Comparative policy scan across relevant jurisdictions
- Fiscal and implementation impact summary with stated assumptions
- Legislative and policy research source register
- Policy-options matrix with operational tradeoffs
- Bill and amendment review brief for counsel consideration
- Community-impact evidence summary with data limitations
- Decision memo with open questions and recommended next steps
02Legislative and budget tracking8 deliverablesKeep the team oriented to the decisions and dates that matter.
Bill tracker with author, committee, status, and key dates, State and county budget-cycle calendar, Hearing schedule with participation and submission requirements, and five more.
- Bill tracker with author, committee, status, and key dates
- State and county budget-cycle calendar
- Hearing schedule with participation and submission requirements
- Amendment comparison and version history
- Budget proposal crosswalk to organizational priorities
- Legislative milestone alerts and weekly status brief
- Hearing preparation packet and question set
- Decision and follow-up register with named owners
03Advocacy communications8 deliverablesMake the case with accurate evidence and a consistent voice.
Message framework with supporting facts and source notes, Support and opposition letters for authorized review, Public-comment and testimony drafts, and five more.
- Message framework with supporting facts and source notes
- Support and opposition letters for authorized review
- Public-comment and testimony drafts
- Talking points and Q&A briefing book
- Op-ed and letter-to-the-editor drafts
- Accessible one-page issue briefs and leave-behinds
- Coalition communications toolkit and presentation notes
- Communications calendar with an approval route
04Coalition building and management8 deliverablesGive partners a shared purpose and a dependable way to work together.
Coalition charter with purpose, scope, and participation expectations, Membership agreement draft and onboarding packet, Decision rules and representation framework, and five more.
- Coalition charter with purpose, scope, and participation expectations
- Membership agreement draft and onboarding packet
- Decision rules and representation framework
- Shared message platform and policy-priority matrix
- Partner workplan with commitments and deadlines
- Meeting cadence, note template, and action register
- Coalition contact map and relationship history
- Participation and progress review with unresolved issues
05Government and stakeholder relations8 deliverablesPrepare each conversation around a clear purpose and a useful next step.
Stakeholder and decision-maker map, District and constituency profile with cited sources, Government meeting request and scheduling plan, and five more.
- Stakeholder and decision-maker map
- District and constituency profile with cited sources
- Government meeting request and scheduling plan
- Legislative visit briefing packet
- Meeting objectives, questions, and speaking notes
- Contact, commitment, and follow-up tracker
- Agency coordination map with approval and escalation routes
- Stakeholder engagement summary for leadership review
06Community organizing and outreach8 deliverablesConnect a plan to documented conversations and next steps.
Canvass and outreach plan with geographic priorities, Turf assignments and field coordination schedule, Conversation scripts and volunteer training materials, and five more.
- Canvass and outreach plan with geographic priorities
- Turf assignments and field coordination schedule
- Conversation scripts and volunteer training materials
- Volunteer role descriptions and shift roster
- Contact, response, and follow-up tracker
- Referral procedures and escalation instructions
- Community listening-session synthesis
- Outreach progress and learning summary
07Convening, facilitation and public speaking8 deliverablesCreate a room where people can participate and decisions can move forward.
Public-meeting and forum agenda, Police-youth dialogue preparation plan, Listening-session guide and participation structure, and five more.
- Public-meeting and forum agenda
- Police-youth dialogue preparation plan
- Listening-session guide and participation structure
- Facilitator run-of-show and decision prompts
- Speaker preparation brief and presentation notes
- Testimony practice plan and mock-hearing question set
- Meeting decision record and action summary
- Joint-programming plan with partner follow-up responsibilities
08Compliance, ethics and disclosure8 deliverablesKeep advocacy records organized for your authorized compliance reviewers.
Advocacy activity inventory for counsel classification, Lobbying registration and threshold questions memo for legal review, Counsel-confirmed disclosure calendar and filing-owner register, and five more.
- Advocacy activity inventory for counsel classification
- Lobbying registration and threshold questions memo for legal review
- Counsel-confirmed disclosure calendar and filing-owner register
- Time and expense tracking template by approved activity category
- 501(c)(3) activity-boundary checklist based on counsel's guidance
- Campaign-contribution disclosure information worksheet
- Communications approval and records-retention workflow
- Compliance exceptions register with escalation and resolution dates
A DEFINED START. AN ONGOING RHYTHM.
How the work unfolds.
Organize the work
- Partner materials and outreach tools
- Hearing or forum preparation
- Documented feedback and next steps
Maintain follow-through
- Policy and coalition updates
- Outreach reporting
- Decision tracking and adaptation
Timing and output volume are agreed after reviewing your records, access, and available capacity.
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
Experience behind the work.
See the broader record →What you keep
WHAT YOU KEEP
The work leaves
something behind.
- 01
A decision and stakeholder map
- 02
Approved communications materials
- 03
An outreach and follow-up tracker
- 04
A coalition workplan
Exhibit 08 · Public affairs & legislative advocacy workflow
- Issue
- People
- Evidence
- Dialogue
- Decision
Countywide partnership work
Hisham coordinated a countywide violence-prevention network, advised Oakland’s Public Safety Table, and helped found Contra Costa’s Mission Possible Conference. The work connects institutions, community partners, and implementation responsibilities.
Grassroots and youth engagement
Canvasser fundraiser, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, September 2014–June 2015. Consulting Program Manager, OK Program of Oakland, 2021–2023, with mentoring, police-youth dialogue, forums, and joint programming.
Capacity and pricing
SCOPE & RESPONSIBILITY
Clear boundaries.
Stronger collaboration.
We work within your authorized advocacy scope and alongside your counsel or compliance lead. Lobbying registration, disclosure, and 501(c)(3) limits require specific review. We do not register as lobbyists on your behalf unless separately scoped and permitted.
Questions we are usually asked
BEFORE WE BEGIN
Questions you
may be weighing.
Can you lobby for us?
The initial scope distinguishes research, communications, organizing, and lobbying activity. Any work triggering registration or disclosure requires review and an agreed compliance route before it begins.
What about our 501(c)(3) limits?
We work with your counsel or compliance lead to define allowable activity, approvals, and tracking. We do not give legal or tax advice or assume that every advocacy activity is treated the same way.
Do you facilitate public meetings?
Yes. We can develop agendas, participant materials, facilitation plans, and decision records for forums, listening sessions, and joint programming. Access needs and public-agency procedures are agreed in advance.
What organizing experience informs the work?
Hisham’s experience includes countywide prevention-network coordination, police-youth dialogue, youth recruitment, and grassroots fundraising. He worked as a canvasser fundraiser for Planned Parenthood Action Fund from September 2014 to June 2015.
Can you help our executive prepare to speak?
Yes. You receive a researched brief, key messages, speaking notes, likely questions, and a rehearsal structure. Claims and commitments are reviewed by the people authorized to make them.
How do you report progress?
We agree measures appropriate to the assignment: documented contacts, substantive conversations, partner commitments, material readiness, and decision milestones. We do not promise a legislative result or equate contact volume with influence.